Quote:
Originally Posted by Famouspork
Since the transmission normally outputs a maximum of 50% traction coefficient to the rear wheels on an occasionnal basis, is the rear drivetrain strong enough to push the car around at 100% capacity and be driven everyday?
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I would put pretty good money on it's not. Almost every component is too weak for prolonged usage. Starting at the reduction gearset in the trans, you would have to really beef up how the clutch hub attaches to the reduction gear. This is probably doable with some high strength bolts, assuming it wouldn't weaken the drive gear or the transfer hub. all of the torque would ride on however you attach that hub to the drive gear (they break off on awd cars already). I think that the splines on the clutch pack would hold up to a stock engine. Following that, I have limited confidence in the bearings in the driveshaft, the U Joints, and the mounting bolts to the rear diff standing up to full torque. Again, you could use high strength bolts there, but those won't help you if you can't keep the driveshaft still or the u joints from failing. Most importantly, I am almost certain that the rear diff will not stand up to it. It's a very small unit, which means the gears are small and not very strong when compared to one meant for RWD. Also, it holds very little fluid and doesn't have any provisions for cooling what little fluid it has. Most rear drive cars with a differential unit like this have cooling fins cast on the case, and on the back. The VLSD would almost certainly overheat in short order, most of them are shot after about 60,000 on an AWD anyway though. Finally, I'm not 100% sure that the rear axles are stout enough, they are again kinda smallish for a RWD only, but it it would probably be one of those "out of design limits but below failure rate" kind of things.
So, If you could find some way to really beef up that rear diff, and keep the fluid cool, you might be able to run an SVX as a RWD for an extended period of time.
I've thought about it too
